OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether endogenous cellular immunity to a particular tumor-specific mutated p53 or ras protein is present in patients with tumors expressing mutant p53 or ras. II. Determine whether vaccination with antigen-presenting cells pulsed in vitro with synthetic peptide corresponding to the tumor's p53 or ras mutation in the presence of sargramostim (GM-CSF) can induce or boost patient cellular immunity to the mutated peptide in this patient population. III. Assess the type and characteristics of the cellular immunity generated. IV. Determine whether in vivo-primed T-cells generated against the p53 or ras mutation, expanded in vitro with corresponding peptide, and infused with subcutaneous interleukin-2 can enhance the activity of specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immune response and/or tumor response in these patients.